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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Ben Watson was sentenced Monday for second-degree felony sexual battery and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition.
In a news release, Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said Watson received 13-17 years in prison, the maximum sentence that the court could impose. Given the nature of the offenses, Flanagan said Watson would have to serve all of that time under Ohio law.
Watson, no age or date of birth listed in court records, is a resident of 1661 Belmont St., Bellaire, according to the indictment. He pleaded guilty in early February, according to court records, shortly before his trial was scheduled to begin. He was charged in 2022 with five counts of first-degree felony rape and five counts of second-degree felony sexual battery in alleged crimes dating from January 2018.
According to information provided by the prosecutor's office during the initial arraignment, the victim was 6-8 years old at the time of the offenses, which were alleged to have occurred at Watson's home in Bellaire, at another home in Bellaire and also in the Barkcamp area.
Flanagan credits Detective Doug Cruse of the Belmont County Sheriff's Office, Harmony House Children's Advocacy Center, Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services as well as a multitude of agencies and counselors that assisted in the investigation and preparation for trial. He added that Assistant Prosecutors Joseph Vavra and Joe Rine prepared extensively for the trial.
"It was their relentless preparation that really caused the defendant to change his plea right before trial and their work needs to be recognized," Flanagan said.
Flanagan also commended the work of two experts that his office planned to use if the case went to trial. He said Robin Teoli, a Wheeling-based counselor, served as a trusted adviser relative to this case.
"Her work with our victim was a tremendous benefit to our case and, more importantly, to our victim," he noted.
Flanagan also complimented the professional guidance his office received from Leslie Vassilaros, former director of Harmony House who now serves as an adviser to his office.
"I've worked with Ms. Vassilaros in the distant past and learned from her," Flanagan said. "She now worked closely with our prosecutors assigned to this case to provide that same guidance. These types of cases are complicated, and Ms. Vassilaros would have explained to the jury many of the things that a powerless child confronts in abuse cases. Her involvement was a very important part of our case and can't be overstated."